"This morning went well, it was finished before 9:30."
Compared to yesterday when he was busy like a spinning top, Hu Zhihai was obviously more relaxed this morning, not just because the business hours were short, but mostly because of Yan Tongtong's help.
After all, when men and women team up, work doesn't feel as tiring.
In front of girls, any guy would want to show off a bit.
Hu Zhihai naturally was no exception.
He turned his head to glance at Yan Tongtong, seeing her busy stacking empty steamers to take them to the sink for washing, and her smooth forehead covered in a fine layer of sweat, he said with concern,
"Xiaoyan, take a break if you're tired, I'll help you wash them later."
"I'm not tired yet, let's finish washing these first. Otherwise, once the boss makes the buns, there'll be no clean steamers to use."
Yan Tongtong smiled at him and continued her work.
When she first arrived in the morning, Yan Tongtong was a bit nervous, worried that the people in the shop might be difficult to get along with, which would make work unbearable.
But after spending a morning together, she found out that both the boss and Senior Brother Hu, who came to help, were easy to talk to.
Although the boss didn't talk much and seemed a bit serious, he wasn't pretentious, doing more than he said.
As for Senior Brother Hu, he talked a lot, constantly chattering, but he had a good heart and took care of others.
Gradually, she loosened up.
She was actually a lively girl, and she did things without being bashful, quickly getting all the empty steamers washed and left them to dry.
"Xiaoyan, take a break and grab something to eat."
Just then, Jiang Yu, who had been making buns in the back, walked over, seeing Yan Tongtong was still busy, he interrupted her,
"Today is the first day of school, if you have anything to do, finish eating and then you can go handle it, just come back by lunchtime."
"Oh, today I only need to go to the school to pay the tuition and accommodation fees, so there shouldn't be much else, I'll be back soon."
Yan Tongtong replied, and then, as if remembering something, a bit embarrassed, said,
"Boss, um, can I buy a soup dumpling to take back? I have a friend..."
By the end, her voice was so low that it was almost inaudible, and she felt her face burning as if she had a fever.
This was just too embarrassing!
Once she got back, she definitely had to make An Xiaoqi properly compensate her, otherwise, she wouldn't get to taste the soup dumplings!
Jiang Yu laughed as soon as he heard it, waved his hand, and said:
"Sure, no need to pay, just pack it in a takeout box yourself."
"Huh? That... that won't do, I have to pay."
Yan Tongtong shook her head repeatedly, "I'm bringing it specifically for a friend with an eating disorder. Except for our store's soup dumplings, she can't eat anything else, so I'll have to bring some for her every day from now on!"
"I see, then bring her a bowl of hot and sour soup too."
Jiang Yu thought for a moment and said to her, "The hot and sour soup has a spleen-strengthening effect. Your friend might not be eating because her spleen and stomach are weak. You should bring it back for her to try and see if she can drink it."
"Great, the hot and sour soup is so savory, I'm sure she can drink it."
Yan Tongtong's eyes lit up, a delighted smile on her face, and she thought to herself how she hadn't thought of it earlier; the boss was brilliant!
After hurriedly eating a little, Yan Tongtong packed a soup dumpling and a bowl of hot and sour soup in a takeout box and quickly headed back to her dorm, after saying goodbye to Jiang Yu and Hu Zhihai.
After she left, Hu Zhihai laughed and said, "This girl is quite interesting, although she doesn't seem very bright, she's got a good personality and works quickly. Lao Jiang, you should consider it."
"Stop playing matchmaker!"
Jiang Yu glared at him and said seriously, "She's here to work and study; you better not spread any nonsense with that big mouth of yours, or you'll scare the girls away."
"I'm only saying it in front of you."
Hu Zhihai pouted, mumbling, "You're almost graduating college, and it's not like no girls have liked you, but you resist dating...
Today, tell me honestly, are you not straight?"
"..."
Jiang Yu's face fell, "You're getting more and more ridiculous."
"Not? Then that's good."
Hu Zhihai let out a long sigh of relief, patting his heart, jokingly saying,
"My poor heart was pounding because of you. If you were not straight, I'd worry that not dating meant you were interested in me, haha lucky for me!"
"Stop talking nonsense; let's talk about something serious."
Jiang Yu couldn't deal with Hu Zhihai, so he changed the subject, "Today is the first day of school. All the freshmen will be registering, plus the returning students, so there will definitely be more people in the cafeteria than yesterday.
So, I'll need to start preparing dumplings and soup for the lunchtime, and you shouldn't idle around. Help me wash the vegetables we need for the soup. Wash more; I have a feeling one pot of soup won't be enough."
"Sure, I can't help much with other things, but I can handle washing vegetables."
Hu Zhihai nodded, standing up from his seat, saying,
"You've been working all morning and must be tired, take a break, I'll wash the soup bowls first, then start washing the vegetables."
"Alright, I appreciate it."
Jiang Yu didn't stand on ceremony, picking up his chopsticks and continuing to eat.
He had been busy since three in the morning and only now had the time to sit down and rest, and indeed he was exhausted.
...
"Second brother, have you really decided?"
Lu Shuyao slightly lifted her head, looking at Lu Shuwu, who was almost half a head taller, with a hint of worry in her eyes, she softly said,
"Aren't you afraid that grandpa will get mad and come to break your legs?"
"Why would grandpa get mad? Isn't this what he always wanted?"
Lu Shuwu pretended to laugh casually, as if defending himself, or maybe explaining to his sister,
"He wanted me to become a chef, so I'll listen to him and become a chef.
As for what kind of chef I'll be, it doesn't have to be according to his wishes, right?
There are many people learning to cook Xiang Cuisine; it's not like I'm indispensable. Will Xiang Cuisine really go extinct without me?"
"What's the use of saying so much now, it's just wishful thinking. Whether they want to accept you or not is still unknown!"
Lu Shuyao couldn't help rolling her eyes, pouting, "If they don't agree, you'll have no choice but to run back home, right? When that happens, let's see if grandpa sorts you out!"
Lu Shuwu looked at her helplessly and said,
"Little sis, second brother has doted on you all these years in vain. Can't you give second brother some encouragement?"
Lu Shuyao "Oh"ed, raised her little fist and made a cheering gesture with a fake smile on her face:
"Oh, second brother, go for it, I'm rooting for you!"
Lu Shuwu: "..."